Jimmie LaBouve admits she was depressed. For three years, nearly every aspect of her life had been overtaken by her leaky bladder. “I started wearing Poise bladder pads off and on,” she says. “Then it got to the point where I had to wear one all the time. If I went anywhere for an hour or two, I had to wear a Depends because the leakage was so bad.”
LaBouve’s problem only grew worse. Her pelvic organs had dropped and were pushing into her vagina. She could actually feel tissue bulging out of her vagina. “This sounds gross, but in order to empty my bladder completely, I would actually have to push my bladder back up into my body.”
The “Normal” No Woman Wants
It’s no surprise that life as she once knew it came to an abrupt halt. No travel adventures. No nature walks. No carefree times with family and friends. “It was very uncomfortable and I couldn’t go anywhere,” she explains. “My activities and daily life were very limited. I put up with it for a long time because I really didn’t know what to do. Women don’t talk about it with one another, so you don’t know who else is going through this.”
On top of the embarrassment and physical discomfort, LaBouve was constantly dealing with bladder infections caused by the chronic use of protective pads and underwear. “I was on antibiotics all the time, which made me nauseous. I felt horrible. I just finally said I can’t do this anymore. Something has got to be done.”
The First Step to Relief
LaBouve found her way to Urology Partners of North Texas and surgeon Lira Chowdhury, D.O., a surgeon who specializes in pelvic prolapse.
“I loved her from the beginning,” LaBouve confesses. “She was easy to talk to and was really interested in knowing what was going on with me. I felt really comfortable with her.”
The 68-year-old LaBouve was diagnosed with triple prolapse—her bladder, vagina and rectum had all dropped from their natural positions. “Dr. Chowdhury told me I was one of the most severe cases of prolapse she had ever seen.”
LaBouve was amazed by the available treatment options outlined by Dr. Chowdhury. “I had no idea there was so much they could do to correct my problem,” she says.
Dr. Chowdhury saw the opportunity to make LaBouve’s daily life significantly better. “I knew there was a lot we could do to help her. So many women are like her and do not seek care. I made sure to give her all options with realistic expectations so she could make an informed choice.”
Originally, LaBouve chose to wear a pessary—a soft silicone form inserted into the vagina that gently pushes prolapsed organs back to their correct position. After trying a variety of pessary shapes, she decided to have her prolapse permanently repaired with a robotic surgical procedure.
Robotic Prolapse Repair
Three months after first meeting Dr. Chowdhury, LaBouve underwent a robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy. “I was nervous, but Dr. Chowdhury was great. I told her I once had a bad experience under anesthesia and became very nauseated. She talked with the anesthesiologist and I did not feel sick at all.”
Although most sacrocolpopexies take about two to three hours, LaBouve’s took five. “Dr. Chowdhury had to deal with a lot of scar tissue from a hysterectomy and cesarean section before she could do the prolapse repair,” she explains.
Under normal circumstances, four to six small incisions are made in the abdomen to lift the prolapsed organs and secure them with a soft, synthetic fabric. LaBouve’s prolapse required a few more incisions due to her scar tissue, but that didn’t slow down her remarkable recovery.
A New Woman
“I stayed in the hospital overnight, but woke up a new woman,” she enthuses. “When Dr. Chowdhury walked in, she was surprised to see me already up. After my catheter was removed and I went to the bathroom on my own, I thought, ‘Wow, this is nice. I’m back to normal.’ I felt great. I was just so happy to have it done.”
At home, LaBouve took it easy for two weeks and only took arthritis-strength Tylenol for soreness while her incisions healed and minor abdominal swelling subsided. By her six-week follow-up visit with Dr. Chowdhury, she felt ready for a richer, more active life.
Enjoying Life Again
Now 69, LaBouve knows the robot-assisted prolapse repair was the right choice for her. “I chose robotic repair because it has a successful history of providing long-term relief. It has totally changed my life,” she notes. “I just feel so much better. I can do what I want now. Your activities are so restricted when you are uncomfortable. It was just misery. I like to walk and now I can without peeing all over myself. I go on trips and can do just about anything. I am just enjoying life all over again.”
That’s good news to Dr. Chowdhury. “I am so happy that Ms. LaBouve’s treatment outcome has been so great and she is now enjoying her life like she should be! She has such an optimistic outlook on life now and that motivates me to help women like her!”
LaBouve is also glad she didn’t wait any longer to have her prolapse corrected.
“You have to consider your age,” she advises. “I wanted to have it done now before I have a health issue that could prevent me from correcting the problem when I’m older. The prolapse was the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever been through. The infections, antibiotic treatments and nausea that came with it made me miserable. I tried to tough it out for three years because I didn’t know what to do. Like a lot of women, I didn’t know there were options and procedures that could make my situation better. I encourage women not to be embarrassed. It happens to a lot of us. At my age, I realized nothing embarrasses me, so I got help.”
Are you struggling with the symptoms of pelvic prolapse?
Don’t live with them. Let the experienced and caring specialists at Urology Partners help you enjoy life again. Call 866-367-8768 or schedule an online appointment.
